Window and door structures



Oct. 1, 1968 A. CIUCANI 3,403,476

WINDOW AND DOOR STRUCTURES Filed July 13, 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet l zzvmvroanueus'ro cmcnm' 25 BY Oct. 1, 1968 Filed July 15. 1966 4 Sheets-Sheet 2VIII 54 so I .3! 39 5/ B. I 6*: 3a BU k IAWM- 54 a 6 \55 I INVENTOR. Q;1 nususro ciucnru' A mallow Oct. 1, 1968 A. CIUCANI WINDOW AND DOORSTRUCTURES 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed July 15, 1966 mmvrox. FmeusTo ciucrmi.U. dun/an! mull"! Oct. 1, 1968 A. CIUCANI WINDOW AND DOOR STRUCTURES 4Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed July 15, 1966 United States Patent() 3,403,476WINDOW AND DOOR STRUCTURES Augusto Ciucani, Foro Bonaparte 18, Milan,Italy Filed July 13, 1966, Ser. No. 564,847 Claims priority, applicationItaly, July 21, 1965, 16,491/ 65 2 Claims. (Cl. 49-401) ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE Window and door frames whose fixed and mobile elements areformed of closed-section metal parts, essentially of trapezoidal shapeand preferably scalene trapezoidal. In both the fixed and mobileelements, the skew side of the section is in parallel and juxtaposed tothe coupled corresponding element. The element is coplanarly extended tothe larger base of the trapezoidal section and thus forms a projectioncapable of meeting the smaller base of the trapezoidal part of theassociated element with a certain tolerance for reciprocal positioning.

The invention relates to window and door structures, more particularly,to light metal frames. The invention, furthermore, pertains to a methodof producing the fixed and mobile elements and their hinge connections.

One of the objects of the invention is the use of extruded structuralelements, made of aluminum or other light metal alloys.

The utilization of light metals for structural shapes is well known perse and has a mnnber of obvious advantages over more conventionalstructural elements made, e.g., of iron or wood. The light metalelements permit opened and closed sections of frames to obtain goodabutment and register.

In general, according to the state of the art, both the mobile and fixedparts of frames form angular structures, essentially rectangular. Eachside is fabricated of one length of a structural element. The contouringcorners are formed by rigid connections between the extremities, cut at45 or 90 degrees. These connections frequently are unsatisfactory, anddifiiculties have been encountered in making good and rigid connectionsbetween the frame elements. Moreover, for esthetic reasons, the framesusually carry a surface finish, e.g., a coating, and a loose connectionbecomes clearly visible after finishing. Welding is not a propersolution because the unevenness of the weld obviates a good surfacecovering. These connections therefore usually are made by mechanicalmeans which do not assure permanent rigidity of the finished structurenor constant and continuous coplanarity of the attendant elements.

Furthermore, in order to avoid the formation of steps, fissures andother defects regarding coplanarity and continuity of the surfaces, theconnection must be made in a very precise manner.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a method for producingmetal frames which not only avoids the disadvantages mentioned above,but which has advantages of manufacture and of economics, as will be setforth below in greater detail. This object is attained by the formationof fixed and mobile frame elements and structures which are extruded andwhich have a shape whereby at least a part of the adjacent sides isobtained by bending of the element which is extended at least along twosides and preferably all sides of the structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method for producingmetal frames wherein the sides of the metal elements are bent, the bendsforming the connections, without an interruption of the material of theshape or 3,403,476 Patented Oct. 1, 1968 element forming the adjacentsides. Particularly, the structural elements are capable of being bentto conform with the special requirements and thus to form the frame.

Acording to a salient feature of the invention, the fixed and mobileelements of the frame are formed of closedsection metal elements,essentially of trapezoidal shape and preferably of scalene trapezoidalshape, wherein the skew side of the section, in both the fixed andmobile elements, is in parallel and juxtaposed to the skew side of thecorresponding element to be coupled thereto. Furthermore, the element isextended coplanarly to the larger base of the trapezoidal section thusforming a projection capable of meeting the smaller base of thetrapezoidal part of the associated fixed or mobile element, with acertain tolerance for reciprocal positioning. I

These and other objects, features and advantages will best be understoodby the following description with reference to the accompanyingdrawings; however, it should be understood that these are given merelyby way of explanation, and not of limitation, and that numerous changesmay be made in the details without departing from the spirit and thescope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

In the drawings,

FIGS. 1 and 2 show, in perspective and schematically, the salientfeature of the invention, a window frame, closed and in its components,respectively;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section of a vertical length in a frame producedaccording to the invention;

FIG. 4 shows the elements of FIG. 3, removed from each other;

FIG. 5 illustrates the fixing of a handle latch to the frame;

FIG. 6 is a transverse section of the lower horizontal length of theframe;

FIGS. 7 and 8 show, in transverse section, two embodiments of applyinghinges to frames formed of elements according to embodiments of theinvention;

FIGS. 9-11 show examples of forming drips and connections of elementsforming the fixed structure of the frame to window sills;

FIGS. 12 and 13 show, in frontal and simplified view, two examples offorming interior bodies using the frames according to the invention; and

FIG. 14 shows, in horizontal section, an example of hinging andanchoring a door, made, e.g., according to FIGS. 12 or 13, to a wall.

Referring now to these drawings, as shown schematically in FIGS. 1 and2, the method provides for the formation of at least two, and preferablythree or all four sides of the rectangle formed by the structural baysof the elements with solely one length of metal shape, preferablyaluminum or other light metal alloy. This applies to the bay or fixedelement A as well as to the mobile element B. In order to form theadjacent sides in the contour of said bays, e.g., the longer sides 20,21 of the fixed bay or 20, or 23, respectively, of only one length of anelement, the latter is bent over to correspond with the intermediateparts 24 and 24, respectively, connecting the sides, and bending occurson the plane of the appertaining bays and with a minimum radius allowedby the characteristics of the element.

The contour of the bay is closed by abutting the ends of the lengths ofelements. In the preferred embodiment wherein the bay is formed of asingle length, the abutment advantageously is accomplished byapproachment in a transverse plane to the element itself, said planebeing at right angles to the direction or to the tangent of the straightor bent direction of the element. Preferably, the connection iseffected, as shown at 25 and 25' (FIG. 2), in a position coincident withone of the hinges 26 (FIG. 1), or other ancillary element of the frame,so

as to mask the connection and simultaneously to utilize the element as amechanical restraining means between the connected ends.

The frames are completed by attaching panels or the like C, occupyingthe space as delimited by the mobile element B, as shown in FIG. 1.

In order to facilitate bending of the material, an element generally isused having, at least in part, a section of closed contour, shapedscalene-trapezoidally. Examples of different sections are shown in FIGS.3, 11 and 14.

A particularly advantageous embodiment is exemplitied in FIGS. 3-6,wherein the structural elements show, in their sections, one closedcontour part of scalenetrapezoidal shape, having a larger base 30 and asmaller one 31, one straight side 32, and an oblique one 33. The latterhas some projections and/ or grooves for the insertion and anchoring ofseals made of rubber or other elastic material. The skew sides aremutually opposed when the frame is in closed position, as shown in FIGS.3 and 6.

An appendix or projection 34 is disposed coplanarly to side 30. The edgeof 34 is suitably rounded or similarly shaped and, when the frame isclosed, partially overlaps and opposes the smaller base 31 of theassociated element. Preferably, a second shaped appendix 35 is present,in coplanar position to the larger base 30, which is capable of actingas one of the sides for the peripheral channel for the glass pane orpanel C which closes the space delimited by the mobile element B.

The pane or panel is fixed to the adjacent element by clamps 37 or othersuitable means, using the pane-fixing element 36.

If and when desired, a further auxiliary element 38 may be insertedbetween the element and the pane-fixing device 36, and this may besuited to form the drip 39.

It has been found that the arrangement generally conforming to theembodiments shown in FIGS. 1-9 is particularly suitable for obtaining aband of a comparatively small radius on the plane in which the bases ofthe trapezoidal part are disposed. Bending also is made easier becausethe widest part in said plane coincides with the bigger base of thetrapezoid.

Another important feature with respect to bending relies on the factthat the section of the element has no undercut or recess on the planesparallel to said bases. This permits bending under favorable conditionsbetween the rollers of a bending machine, placed on the inside andoutside of the bend. It also is advantageous for the manufacture of theframes to provide some tolerance or latitude in the overlap of part 34to the smaller base 31 of the associated elements when forming theframe. It is evident that by having the element bent at a relativelynarrow radius for making the fillets between adjacent sides, it may notbe feasible to follow these narrow limits of the bending radii.Accordingly, even if there is some unevenness and lack of precision inthe mutual adjustment between fixed and mobile bays, with localizedvariations of overlap between parts 34 and 31, these variations usuallyare very slight and of no practical consequence.

Furthermore, the strong skew of sides 33 of the trapezoidal partspermits approachment and separation of fixed and mobile elements,meaning an approachment between the skew surfaces relative to thedirection of the reciprocal motion thus allowing for a more favorableadherence between the elastic seals or packings, even in the instance ofcomparatively large tolerance in the mutual positions, when the frame isclosed.

When the frames are formed with bent fillets of relatively small radius,the wider lengths, as formed by parts 34, 30 and 35, may undergo acertain deformation, particularly some camber or convexity. In order tominimize this deformation, the external surface 40 of the length (shownin FIG. 8) may originally be of convex shape so that a small variationin the convexity is hardly visible.

The frames according to the invention may be anchored to the masonry bymeans of shapes or metal elements, particularly those made of iron, indifferent combinations and arrangements, examples of which are shown inFIGS. 3-6. Other arrangements may be made for special purposes.

Similarly, several ways may be adopted for hinging the mobile elementsto the fixed ones. As shown in FIG. 7, elements and 51 of the hinges maybe provided with appendices 52 and 53, respectively, which are insertedin the cavities of the corresponding trapezoidal section parts and fixedthereto by means of bolts 54, whose heads are accessible only when theframe is opened so as to ensure their protection and masking in closedstate of the frame. The elements 50' and 51 of the hinges (FIG. 8) mayalso be on the outside of the ele ments, for instance fastened by bolts55 which are inserted in tapped holes which preferably, beforehand, areprovided with sleeves 56 of an elastic material, rubber, plastic, orother suitable compound. The sleeve is capable of expansion followingthe axial pressure exerted when tightening the bolts with nuts 57,previously assembled thereon and dimensioned so as to be initiallyinserted through holes cut into said elements.

In a similar manner, the other ancillary and complementary parts may beconnected to the elements, such as latches, handles, and the like. Ahandle latch connection is shown in FIG. 5.

Drips, gutters and other parts may be provided in correspondence withthe lower part of the frames, associated to the fixed element A, asshown, e.g., in FIGS. 9-11. FIG. 9 illustrates a drip 60 projecting atthe base of a window, level with the outer surface of a wall. In asimilar manner, drips may be placed on the upper part of the window.

FIG. 10 shows the manner in which the fixed element A of a frame (thesection of which exemplifies a variation of the shape) may be associatedwith a sill cover 61 having a shaped part 62 inside the element and anexternal part 63 forming the drip. A further variation is illustrated inFIG. 11, where the side of the base (and possibly other sides of thecontour) are associated with the element by means of a complementaryelement 64 provided with a part 65 which is disposed inside the shapeforming fixed part A, and an external part 66 which straddles a relievededge 67, made of metal, marble, concrete, or the like, suitably embeddedin window sill 68.

As previously mentioned, the method according to the invention readilyis adopted for the manufacture of doors, particularly for indoors use.In this instance, it normally is desirable that the vertical uprights ofthe doorpost get down to the floor forming right angles wtih the same.In such cases, the fixed structure A of the frame, forming an abutmentfor the doorpost, may be built of a single length including twostraight, vertical parts 20 and 21, similar to the parts shown in FIG.2, and bent parts of fillet 24, thellfower side being open, its partbeing taken by the floor ltse The mobile structure placed around panel Cis formed by a length which, being bent as 24', forms the upper side 22and the vertical sides 20' and 21', while the lower side is formed by asecond straight length 70, connected squarely at 71 to the lower ends ofsaid vertical sides. An auxiliary panel 72, which may, for instance, beof cast or molded light metal, completes the base of the mobile elementof the frame, the whole assembly being shown in FIG. 12.

The contour of panel C may be shaped integrally according to the typicalstructural arrangement as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, i.e., of a singlelength which is bent four times at 24, thus forming all the sides of thebay and in this case the auxiliary panel 72' may have upper side endsbent so as to complete the enclosure of the entire space delimited bythe fixed structure of the frame, as shown in FIG. 13.

The fixed and mobile parts of the door may be hinged in any convenientmanner, as previously described. For instance, element 80 of a hinge maybe connected to the mobile element as described with reference to FIG.8, while the second element 81 of the hinge may be fixed, e.g., by thepreviously described means of using expansion bolts, to an element 82forming a contour or completion of the doorpost and associated with thecontour formed on the opposed side by the fixed element A, the sectionof which may, for instance, be the one shown in FIG. 14.

What is claimed is:

1. A rectangular frame structure having a fixed and a correspondingmobile element and forming fillets between their adjacent sides, whichcomprises one length of each said element bent so as to form a rectangleas a single element, the ends of one element abutting substantially atthe upper part of one of the long sides of the rectangle, the ends ofthe corresponding element abutting substantially at the lower part onthe same long side of the rectangle, said two elements being connectedby hinge means along said one long side; and closing means at theopposite long side of the rectangle; each said single lengths beingclosed contour parts of trapezoidal shape, the inclined sides on bothsaid fixed and mobile element opposing each other when said structure isin closed position; the bend being in a plane parallel to the one by thebases of said trapezoidal shape; said trapezoidal shape being provided,coplanarly to its bigger base, with a protruding part partiallyoverlapping the smaller base of the opposed element when the frame is inclosed position; said trapezoidal shape further being provided with atleast one projection essentially coplanar to one of the bases of saidtrapezoidal shape on its bigger base.

2. The structure as defined in claim 1, wherein said shape is scalenetrapezoidal.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,060,525 11/ 1936 Beremi et al49-401 X 2,626,024 1/ 1953 Persson 52--658 2,782,887 2/1957 Zimmerman49401 X 2,847,731 8/1958 Hollander 52-658 X KENNETH DOWNEY, PrimaryExaminer.

